Any telescope afficionados out there?

1/12/02 | me

[N2Gems]

I have been through several scopes since 1980 ranging from 4" to 15". I never got much use out of them because of the hassle of setting up. Last year I bought a Celestron Nexstar 8. I have got more use and enjoyment out of that scope than all of the others combined. I don't have very deep pockets but I got a good deal at eBay. I got it for just over $1000. I am keeping my eye out for the new Nexstar 10". When I see a good deal I am going to buy it and auction off the 8". Setup is a breeze and with a wedge, (about $100) long exposure photography is a snap. Shop around, but be sure to check out eBay.

[cmsgop]

and fridge for beer.

I LOVE MY BEER FRIDGE!!!

p.s. Over Christmas I was givin one of those Beck's mini kegs from my father in-law. They are pretty cool!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Try this link to see lots of amateur observatories

http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/billa/obs/obslist.html

[Gorzaloon]

". When I see a good deal I am going to buy it and auction off the 8". Freepmail me instead, no kidding! :-)

[strela]

Here's what I have:

Its still in the box though. I'm saving to build a permanent enclosure in the back yard with seating and a heater, but I'm not quite there with the cash yet. I'm looking at pouring a round 15' concrete slab with permanent mounting and power supply for the scope and computer, with a retractable Lexan bubble and hail shield over it. Kind of a gazebo on steroids.

[AngrySpud]

" ... check out eBay."

I've thought about that but am a bit leery about buying something sight-unseen. Still, I wouldn't mind taking advantage of an impulse-shopper with buyer's regret.

[AngrySpud]

Why wait, why budget? Pick up a porta-john at your local construction site and put hinges on the top. Comes with a built-in seat.

[muir_redwoods]

I envy you. Years ago I bought a Criterion 6" newtonian and fell in love with a scientific hobby where even the amateur gets to deal with the best subjects there are. I have not had time to fully indulge in this for years but some day I'll be back. Good hunting and remember, always get the biggest bucket you can reasonably afford.

[strela]

LOL! I'm planning to have LASIX surgery done this year as well. I want my eyes as sharp as possible.

(Nice observation about the porta-potty though. I was going to leave a bunch of empty 2-liter bottles out there myself) ;)

[a_federalist]

That's great. If you decide to post any of your photos please add me to your ping list. I would like to see them. I only have a little 6" reflector currently, but am hoping to upgrade to the Meade 8" SC. First I have to finish paying of the dark sky site I bought. Told my wife it's a real estate investment...and it is, it is. :)

[Gorzaloon]

I only have a little 6" reflector currently

I have great memories of observing the dust storms on Mars in 1970 with my little 6" f8.

Some pretty important discoveries were made with smaller scopes.

I do not imagine any of us would even consider what Galileo used to discover the four larger satellites of Jupiter even as a finder scope.

[a_federalist]

"Which is more important -- an observatory, or new carpet in the house?"

Why not kill two birds with one stone and carpet the observatory?

[Joe Hadenuf]

I currently have images of the Orion Nebula, Saturn, Jupiter, and a whole slew of lunar images. I can't wait to eventually build the backyard observatory, as I will be able to do much more imaging work.

That's another reason why I want to get into CCD cameras, as the exposure time is reduced dramatically. Instead of an tracking an object for an hour and getting all the light pollution fog in the image, the CCD camera allows exposure times of 100 seconds, then you can send the image to adobe Photoshop and stack and layer images and further enhance the images. Light pollution does not affect CCD imaging as much as film imaging. I have a lot to learn regarding CCDs.

How do you post images here? I never need to before? If I can do it, I will post some of my work.

[Gorzaloon]

but am hoping to upgrade to the Meade 8" SC.

Now that the GOTO's are out, you can probably pick up a noncomputerized used one reasonably. My niece got her 8" Meade from a club member for $500!!

Of course, one has to LOOK for stuff with these. But unless you are really deep into it, beyond 8" might be getting into a diminishing returns scenario. If you visited the above uRL I posted for my 10", you see that I built the 24" at Penn State, and quite a few others. But with the skies the way they have been the last 15 years, you may not gain as much in huge aperture as you expect.

Jupiter in a 24" is a sight, though...

[AngrySpud]

"Why not kill two birds with one stone and carpet the observatory?"

EUREKA! I'd KNEW there were brilliant minds here!

[a_federalist]

"How do you post images here? I never need to before? If I can do it, I will post some of my work."

I don't know myself but hopefully someone out there can tell you. I do know you have to have your images posted on your own website and link them in like any other image post. Good luck! That's great you're in a place where you can view from your yard.

[RadioAstronomer]

Do not buy a 60mm k-mart special!!!! Get an 80 or 90mm Celestron/mead etc. preey reasonably priced and quite nice. (make sure it has the 1.25 (I think its 1.25 (NOT THE .75), this is off the top of my head) mm lenses. No mirrors to get out of alingment.

[a_federalist]

Yes. One reason I'm going with an 8" over a larger scope is an 8" is still fairly portable for me.
I am fortunate in that my dark site property is not too far from the Goldendale observatory which has a 24.5" scope. It's pretty awesome. If you're ever in that area you might want to check it out.

[callisto]

I wish I had a recommendation for you. I would love to have a good scope myself, but I have 2 children, ages 3 and 11, who have the same attraction to the stars as I do. We've been through 2 inexpensive scopes in the last 2 years because they constantly think they can do it themselves. I've given up hope for purchasing a really nice one for a few years, until they're older. I do enjoy scheduling public time at the Three College Observatory though.